Tsuyo stumbled out of the door, his footing not quite as sure as it had been when he walked in.
"And stay out this time! No money, no drinks you lazy bum!" called the bartender from inside the warm tavern. Where am I? Tsuyo wondered. The cold night air blew through the wide streets of Magnimar. He knew he was in the one of the southern quarters of the city, but he wasn't quite sure where exactly he was. He squinted up at the sign hanging above the door, perhaps that would give him some idea. He spent a minute trying to read it, but he gave up, too drunk to make it out. The burly mountain of a man who had 'shown him out' stepped out in front of him. Tsuyo looked up slowly, recognition dawning in his eyes after a moment.
"Markus! What are you doing here?" Tsuyo cried in excited astonishment.
"Making some honest coin that don't make me risk my neck for a pittance." Markus grumbled back.
The half-orc's words were harsh but his tone was soft and his face was kind. That was why Tsuyo had asked him to come along on his ill-fated adventure a month ago. He had stumbled across Magnimar (in much the same state as he currently found himself) trying to put together a party of hearty adventurers to seek their fortunes. It may have been a bad idea to recruit while falling down drunk in half a dozen inns and taverns across the city, but isn't that the kind of thing people do when they start adventures?
"Ahh, an honest day's wage is no way to make a fortune! How about we go get the band back together, eh? Where's Margie? Or Bolin?" Tsuyo replied, completely forgetting about the horrible end their party had met.
"Margaret is still holed up in her sister's place. Won't let me near. Bolin's crawled into the bottom of any bottle he can find. I'm surprised you haven't seen him yet, the way you're carrying on." Markus said slowly. He sighed heavily, watching the man he had followed on a fool's errand struggle to keep his footing. "The band is not going to be getting back together, not now, not ever. Not after we lost Martin." he growled angrily.
Tsyuo hung his head, his face darkening. His first and only attempt at being a great adventurer like his big sister had ended in such catastrophe. Martin's fate had been his fault, their band of friends dashed to pieces because of him. He had thrown everything he had left home with behind that endeavor and now he was broke, in coin and spirit. He began to sob, and when Markus saw what he had said hurt Tsuyo, he relented.
"Hey now, come on. I'll set you up with a room tonight, but you should really consider looking for work." Markus said as he slipped an arm around Tsuyo's side. He started making for another inn just a block away. He began listing off a few ideas for his friend, "Hired muscle for a tavern, a caravan guard, maybe join the city watch or-"
"Bounty hunter!" Tsuyo exclaimed, perking up and wresting himself free from Markus.
Markus raised an eyebrow in surprise and confusion, "Uh, maybe, I guess. Not quite the kind of work I was thinking of but-"
"No, no! Look!" Tsuyo whispered in excitement, pointing at a board with notices stuck to it. He snatched one of the papers down and read it off to Markus. "Ten gold per goblin ear, 500 for the tribe's elimination, and it's back home in Sandpoint! I can't wait! Let's go Markus!"
Markus sighed, "I'm not going to go with you, but ten gold per ear sounds pretty easy. And maybe your family can talk some sense into you. If you think this is what you want to do, go for it. Just let me get you a room for the night so you can sleep this off in a bed and not a gutter." With that, Tsuyo spent the rest of his night dreaming of glory, riches, and dead goblins.
